Bridle-bit



UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

IRAM Z. MERRIAM, OF WHITEWATER, WISCONSIN.

BRlDLE-BIT.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,244, datedOctober 10, 1893.

Application filed May 20, 1893- Serial No. 474,973. (No model.)

to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a bit pro- Videdwith my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a horses head inabout a normal vposition showing the driving'rein relaxed. Fig. dis asimilar view of a horses head reined up and with the driving rein taut.

Fig. 4. is a view of a curved metallic bar passing through the ring ofthe bit and provided with the stops at either end. Fig. 5 is a view ofthe bit provided with a roller at the outer edge of the large ring.

The object of my invention is to provide a head gear for horses, mules,850., by the use of which the animals heads will be allowed the greatestfreedom and ease when in repose and at the same time be under perfectcontrol of the driver when animated by fright or excitement.

end to the check rein and at the opposite end to the driving rein, thesame to be provided with suitable stops as will be hereinafter fullyexplained.

The invention consists broadly in the provision of a connecting linkbetween the check rein and the driving rein securing on the instanteither perfect freedom and ease for the animal or an erect stylish head,at the will of the driver providing a head gear which combines style andcomfort alternately at will.

For arbitrary and conventional reasons, however excuseless, it isfrequently desirable to throw a horses head up, the argument beinggenerally that it makes the animal look better and sometimes that itfacilitates breathing. Humanity however, impels a human being'tomake hisanimal comfortable and one of the best and easiest ways to do this is toloosen the check rein or better, to dispense with it. This, however isso radical a departure from the publics misconception of style, that thepractice of dispensing with the check rein is far from universal. It ismy intention therefore, to provide a device by the use of which, theanimal may at times at least, rest his neck and drop his head into anatural, and normal position.

A liveryman keeping horses to let, generally feels obliged to take ahorse out reined up in style. He knows that his horse cannot do a longdrive up hill and down dale with comfort and safety checked up out ofall reason. This device then, Will be a boon to liveryhorses as thehorse will at least be able to drop his head when standing. It will alsobe a great convenience and labor-saving device for the driver as he cangive the animal his head at any time at a watering trough or feedingplace without moving from his seat.

The device is applicable to bridles now in use, whether provided withthe overdraw check or side check. With a fairly bred, fairly brokenhorse, a gentle pull in either direction will guide the animal withouthurting his mouth. With a thorough-bred, perfectly broken horse, theslightest touch on the bit at either side, will guide the horseaccordingly. With a vicious horse, or horses badly frightened, astronger pull is necessary and a positive pull is sometimesindispensable.

My device provides a head gear and guiding apparatus, that will be easyon a gentle horse, more severe with an indifferent animal, and hard onan animal who is stubborn or badly frightened.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates the bar of the bit; B, B, theusual rings at the end of the bit; and Q the sheave or roller secured tothe bit.

D is the sliding cable or bar provided with stops E, E, for a purpose tobe hereinafter explained.

F designates a check rein; G a driving rein; H awater hook; and l, theside pieces of the bridle.

The cable D may be made of leather, rubber,

wire covered with leather or with anyapproble material or it may besimply a metallic bar, preferably slightly curved from end to end. Theexact style of bit and running connection between the bit and the cablemay be varied to accommodate the bit for use in various climates andunder varying conditions. For instance, to obviate any possibledifficulties and imperfections in the action of the bit,

as might be the cause in very cold frosty weather, I may use instead ofa flexible cable passing through a roller or sheave on the bit bar, ametallic or flexible cable, either one running over a pulley or througha loop back a sufficient distance from the bit bar to prevent its beingwet by the vapor from the horses mouth and the saliva as well, and I mayput the roller a sufficient distance from the bit to prevent its beingwet when the animal is drinking.

By the provision of a metallic bar running through a metallic loop orroller, the case could hardly be imagined where frost or water wouldinterfere with the operation of the bit enough to prevent its perfectoperation. The solid metallic bar also has the advantage of forming asort of lever which will operate quickly on a hard month, which issometimes a desideratum.

I wish it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the exactform of sheave or roller to be used, nor to the material, and shape ofthe cable; nor do I wish to limit myself to the exact positions shown,of the pulleys or rollers or link connections, with respect to theirdistance from the bit bar, as these details may be varied at will,without departing from the spirit of my invention and without in any wayinterfering with its usefulness.

The operation of my device is as follows: The check rein is secured tothe upper stop E on the cable D, and the driving rein G is connectedwith the lower one. The check rein is passed over the water hook H whereit may be provided with a loop a, to form a rigid connection at thepoint It to prevent the check rein from running through the Water hook.I do not think the provision of this loop in the check rein absolutelynecessary but it may sometimes be found desirable. The driver then takeshis position and if he wishes to rein his horse up and drive him ofi instyle, he simply pulls up on the driving rein G until the stops to whichthe end of the check rain is attached and is drawn down to the roller onthe bit, where it will stop, giving the driver a positive pull directlyon the bit. When it is desired to let the horse walk or drink, or havehis head for any other reason, the driver simply loosens the reins G andthe horse is free to drop his head at will. The provision of the loop inthe check rein, while as I said before, it is not absolutely necessary,prevents any slipping of the check rein, keeps the horse more steady,and helps to make the animal follow the rein, which is a greatdesideratum with all thorough horsemen. For the purpose of controlling ahard puller, the upper limit of the head motion may be extended so thatthe driver could lift the animal 0E his feet. The lower stop of thecable limits the downward movement of the horses head to an extentsuflicient to keep him from getting the lines under his feet and toprevent him from eating grass at the way side, which is frequently bothan annoyance and a disadvantage.

I prefer using the device as follows: First arrange for theupper limitof head at a point Where it would be checked up by the ordinary checkrein, then fix the lower limit at a point where the horse on which it isused would naturally hold his head when at rest. The reins might be soconstructed that the driving rein and check rein would be continuous andthe stops attached at proper points, but as I desire to have my deviceapplicable to ordinary bridles now in use, I have made it applicable tosuch devices in the manner shown and described.

Having described the objects, uses and advantages of my device, what Ibelieve to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnitedStates, and what I therefore claim, is-

1. A driving bit comprising a mouth bar, cheek rings secured thereto, aloop or pulley attached to the cheek rings and an independent linkhaving a stop at either end, said link adapted to pass through the loopor pulley, and adapted to be attached at one end to the check-rein andat the other end to the driving reins, substantially as set forth.

2. A driving bit comprising a mouth bar, cheek rings secured thereto, aloop or pulley attached to the cheek rings and an independent flexiblelink having a stop at either end, said link adapted to pass through theloop or pulley, and adapted to be attached at one end to the check-reinand at the other end to the driving reins, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

3. A driving bit comprising a mouth bar, cheek rings secured thereto, aloop or pulley attached to the cheek rings, and an independent metalliclink, having a stop at either end, said link adapted to pass through theloop or pulley, and adapted to be attached at one end to the check-reinand at the other end to the driving reins, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

4:. A driving bit comprising a mouth bar, cheek rings secured thereto, aloop or pulley attached to the cheek rings and an independent flexiblecurved metallic link having a stop at either end, said link adapted topass through the loop or pulley and adapted to be attached at one end tothe check-rein and at the other to the driving reins, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

5. A driving bit comprising a mouth bar and cheek ring, having loopsextending at an angle to the cheek rings, the passage through said linksbeing vertical and independent links having a stop at either end, saidlinks adapted to pass through the loops and to be 5 attached at one endto the check-rein and at the other ends to the driving reins,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

IRAM -Z. MERRIAM.

Witnesses:

E. F. THAYER, 0. W. TRATT.

